Chapter 15 #2
Rose’s stomach rumbled, and her hands flew to her belly. “I could definitely use something to eat.”
Meri laughed.
So did Chase.
They got the marriage certificate recorded and then walked back to the SUV.
The next stop was the country club.
When they arrived, the valet took the SUV to park it.
Chase held his arms out one to Meri and one to Rose, then escorted them into the building.
Chase led them directly to the restaurant, which was open to the public.
They were seated immediately.
The dining room wasn’t very busy, so they were seated at a table with a view of the mountains.
The decor was rather plain with standard booths along the wall opposite the windows. Four top tables with metal legs were arranged in the rest of the space. They had some wonderful paintings of the same mountains that their little group was looking at.
“The food here is good. I can recommend the French dip sandwich if you want lunch, and I believe they serve breakfast all day.” Chase picked up his menu.
So did Rose.
Meri was almost too busy looking at the pictures on the walls to get to her menu, but she finally picked it up and perused the offerings.
Meri placed the menu back on the table.
A server with beautiful auburn hair arrived. “Hi ladies. Gentleman. Do you know what you’d like?”
“I think I’ll have the French dip with the seasoned fries and iced tea,” said Meri.
“Sounds good,” said Rose. “I’ll have the same.”
“Make it three,” said Chase.
A server laughed and took their order. “Well, you all make that easy. I’ll return shortly with your iced teas.” She turned and left.
Rose put her napkin on her lap. “So how does it feel to be married?”
“I don’t feel any different yet. Maybe I will later,” said Meri.
Chase took one of Meri’s hands and kissed the top. “Same here. I think tomorrow, we’ll both feel differently.” He winked.
After they ate, they returned to the ranch.
They arrived in the late afternoon.
“We still have time for a ride.” Chase took Meri’s hand in his.
“I need to change clothes, but I’d love to go riding.”
“I’ll get the horses ready while you do that.”
A grin split Meri’s face. “That sounds like a deal. I’ll hurry though, anyway.”
Chase pulled her close. “I love you, you know.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. He says the words easily now and I know he really means them. “I love you, too. But I don’t mind hearing it every day. I can’t imagine how I existed before you.”
“Nor I you.” He pulled her tighter to his body, leaned down, and kissed her.
This wasn’t the gentle kiss he’d given her in the judge’s chambers. This kiss curled her toes, and all she could do was hang on.
When he pulled back, he was out of breath.
“Wow! Mr. Harper, you really know how to kiss. And I don’t care how you learned or who taught you. I’m just glad they did, and you were an excellent pupil.”
He laughed. “That’s another reason I love you. You say such irreverent things.”
After he kissed her on the nose, he headed to the barn.
She went upstairs, took off her dress, and hung it up. Then, she dressed in a long-sleeved flannel shirt that had been washed so many times it was as soft as a kitten’s fur, followed by her jeans, socks, and boots.
When she was ready, she ran down the stairs and out through the kitchen to the barn.
Chase had two horses saddled and ready to go.
“You’re fast.” She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss.
He grabbed her around the waist as she turned away. “And you’re too fast.” He pulled her close and laid his lips on hers. Caressing, taking little nips, tugging at her bottom lip with his teeth and then forging in and tasting her.
She met his every thrust with one of her own. Flames engulfed her body, rendering her powerless. Meri pulled back. “As much as I’d like to carry this to a delightful conclusion, you’ll have to wait, because right now I want to ride. I want to gallop with the wind in my hair.”
He laughed and let her go. “Very well. I live but to serve.” He bowed low from the waist.
Meri chuckled. “You may rise, Sir Chase. Which horse is mine?”
“The black. She’ll give you a good ride, but she isn’t so spirited that she’ll buck you off.
“I thank you for that.” She walked to the horse’s left side, petted her neck, and then mounted with ease.
“Let me adjust the stirrups.” Chase fixed her stirrups and then mounted the big bay horse next to her.
“Where are you taking me?”
“We’ve got a couple of hours, so I thought I’d take you to the fishing hole. A stream runs through the property and there are some good places for fishing. Would you like to go somewhere else?”
“No, I don’t know the property. I just want to make sure I’m back in time to take a shower before dinner. I don’t want to smell like a horse at the dinner table.”
“If I get you naked in a shower, we might miss dinner altogether.”
She laughed. “That’s why I’ll be showering in the guest room.”
They rode the property. The land was low, rolling hills covered in high June grass. As they approached the stream, trees and bushes were more plentiful.
They followed the stream and came to a rock outcropping. Boulders had fallen in the water at some time in the past and a great hole of slow-moving water had formed. Perfect for dropping a worm into and maybe catching a big trout.
Meri didn’t get as much time galloping as she thought she wanted, but turned out she had enough.
When they stopped, she dismounted and saw that Chase had taken them to the top of one of the hills.
She held on to the reins of her horse and looked out at the vista before her.
From their vantage point, she saw the mountains and the ranch with all its buildings. She could even make out her new studio.
“This is beautiful.”
He came up behind her and put his arms around her waist, pulling her back against him. “This is my favorite place on the entire ranch. Everything you see, up to the mountains, is our property.”
“That’s pretty impressive.”
“I like to think so.”
She folded her arms on top of his. “I love it here.”
“I do, too. Have you decided you can live here?”
She turned and faced him. Then she brought his head down to her and kissed him.
Meri put all of her love into the kiss and when she pulled back, she looked up into the face of her beloved.
“I can live here, or Denver, or Timbuktu, as long as you’re there with me.
That’s the only thing I want: to be with you. ”
“That’s all I want, too, but this land calls to me. I think I’d rather go to Denver or perhaps London or Paris in the winter.”
“That’s fine. I’ll go where you go. I love you with all my heart.”
“And I you. I’m so glad you walked into my office for that interview.”
“So am I. You know, though, you will still have to pay me for the murals and the paintings.”
Smiling, he kissed her forehead. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
She grinned and then laid her head on his chest. Just hearing his heart soothed her. He touched her heart and her soul. He was the man she thought she’d never find. He was the elusive cowboy of her dreams. And it was nice that he was a billionaire, too.